Holding tool for starting sparkplugs



Aug.20, 1968 ,ESTEP ET AL 3,397,602

HOLDING TOOL FOR STARTING SPARKPLUGS Filed June 21, 1967 INVENTORS. MICKEY L. ESTEP and KARL G. KAUFMAN United States Patent 3,397,602 HOLDING TOOL FOR STARTING SPARKPLUGS Mickey L. Estep, 2236 Hendricks St., and Karl G. Kaufman, 104 E. Center St., both of Warsaw, Ind. 46580 Filed June 21, 1967, Ser. No. 647,801

4 Claims. (Cl. 81-125) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated tool for holding sparkplugs has a cylindrical hole at one end. A resilient gripping member is positioned in the hole and retained by a flange. The gripping member has a cylindrical hole for receiving the terminal end of a sparkplug so that the sparkplug may be held and rotated by the tool.

Background of the invention Our invention relates to a holding tool for a sparkplug, and particularly to an improved holding tool that is relatively simple in construction but that reliably holds a sparkplug for manipulating and threading the sparkplug into its opening in an engine.

In servicing a modern automobile engine, mechanics frequently have difficulty getting to the part of the engine which requires servicing. This difficulty arises from the fact that modern automobiles have many accessories and additional parts mounted on and around the engine. Such accessories and parts may include exhaust manifolds, generators, hydraulic pumps for power brakes and power steering, an air conditioner, and the other brackets and structures for such accessories and parts. When a mechanic must service the engine, he may either have to remove some of these accessories or additional parts, or work between and around these accessories or additional parts. When an engine is serviced, the sparkplugs are almost always removed, cleaned or replaced, and then put back in the engine. Since there are typically six or eight sparkplugs to remove and then put back, mechanics usually prefer to remove and put the sparkplugs back by reaching around or between the accessories or additional parts. While there are tools available for removing and putting sparkplugs back, we have found that such tools have drawbacks. The tools may be diflicult or cumbersome to use, particularly when the sparkplug is being inserted and threaded into an inaccessible opening in the engine. Or, the tools may not hold the sparkplug securely, particularly in a downward position, so that the sparkplug falls and breaks, or its threads or spark gap damaged. Or, the tools may be too large to pass through the space that is between two closely spaced accessories and that is the best location for inserting and threading the sparkplug in its opening.

Accordingly, an object of our invention is to provide an improved tool for holding a sparkplug.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved tool which reliably holds a sparkplug so that a mechanic can manipulate the sparkplug to an inaccessible location, and then rotate the sparkplug to start its threads.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved sparkplug holding tool that is relatively small, and that can be easily used and manipulated in locations where there is very little space.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved sparkplug holding tool which is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct.

Summary of the invention Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with our invention by an elongated tool having a generally cylindrical shape. One end of the tool is pro- 3,397,602 Patented Aug. 20, 1968 vided with a cylindrical hole having a smooth inner surface. A cylindrical gripping member of resilient material is positioned in the hole, and is retained by a flange which extends partially over the gripping member in its hole. The gripping member has a cylindrical hole which fits the terminal end of the sparkplug. The other end of the elongated member forms a handle which preferably has a diameter smaller than the one end. The terminal end of a sparkplug is inserted in the hole in the gripping member, and is firmly held. The sparkplug can then be inserted and threaded into its opening by manipulating the handle.

Brief description of the drawing The subject matter which we regard as our invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims. The structure and operation of our invention, together with further objects and advantages, may be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a sparkplug held by our holding tool; and

FIGURE 2 shows a side view of our holding tool, partly in cross-section, and the terminal end of a sparkplug in position for being inserted in our holding tool.

Description of the preferred embodiment With reference to FIGURE 1 and 2, our sparkplug holding tool 10 is preferably constructed of metal and has a generally cylindrical shape that is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis 12. One end 14 of the tool 10 is enlarged with respect to the remainder of the tool 10, and is provided with a cylindrical bore or hole 16 that is symmetrical about the axis 12. The bottom of the hole 16 has a conical shape because of the drill used. This conical shape may be removed or eliminated if desired by a suitable tool. A cylindrically shaped gripping member 18 formed of resilient material such as rubber, is positioned in the hole 16. The member 18 is retained by an inwardly directed, peripheral flange 20 which may be provided by forming or peening the cylindrical wall portion 15 at the one end 14. The tool 10 has its other end 22 preferably of a smaller diameter than the one end 14 so as to form a handle with which the tool 10 can be manipulated or rotated. We prefer that at least a part of the other end 22 be knurled so that the tool 10 can be held more reliably and rotated more easily.

The gripping member 18 preferably has an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the hole 16. The gripping member 18 has an internal cylindrical hole that is preferably slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the terminal portion 24 of a sparkplug 26. The flange 20 does not completely cover the gripping member 18 so that the hole of the gripping member 18 is completely exposed. When a sparkplug is to be held and inserted or threaded into its opening in an engine, the terminal portion 24 is inserted into the opening or hole in the gripping member 18 and is firmly held thereby. The tool 10 can then be held or manipulated by its handle or other end 22, and the sparkplug manipulated to its opening in the engine and rotated so that its threads engage the threaded opening in the engine. We have found that the gripping portion 18 holds the sparkplug at its terminal 24 so securely that the sparkplug may not only be freely manipulated, but may also be almost completely threaded into its opening.

We have constructed a number of sparkplug holding tools as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and have found them easy to construct, and reliable in operation. The tools were constructed of ordinary cylindrical steel stock having an outside diameter of 0.5 inch, and lengths of 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0 inches. The various lengths were provided to suit individual preferences. The handle end 22 was turned down to a diameter of 0.25 inch for lengths of 2.0, 2.5, and 3.5 inches for the overall lengths of 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0 inches respectively so that the end 16 was 0.5 inch long. The handle end 22 was knurled. The hole 16 was drilled with a drill having a diameter of 0.437 inch to a depth of 0.375 inch. The gripping member 18 was made of readily available neoprene or rubber tubing having a length of 0.375 inch, and a nominal outside diameter of 0.420 inch which permits the gripping member 18 to be easily inserted in the 0.437 inch. hole. We have found that this tubing has an inside diameter slightly less than 0.25 inch which causes the gripping member 18 to firmly grip the terminal portion of most sparkplugs. The gripping member 18 was inserted in the hole or bore 16, and the cylindrical wall portion 15 at the one end 14 was peened or formed to provide the flange 20 which extends around the circumference. This flange and the relative dimensions of the hole 16 and member 18 firmly retain the gripping member 18. However, the flange 20 does not completely cover the gripping member 18 so that its internal hole or opening is not blocked. The tool may be plated if desired. When the terminal portion 24 of a sparkplug is inserted into the slightly undersized opening in the gripping member 18, the resilient gripping member 18 is forced outward against the smooth inner surfaces of the drilled hole 16 and frictionally engages these surfaces. Thus, our hole or bore 16 does not require flutes or other formed surfaces for holding the gripping member 18 and the terminal portion 24 of the sparkplug. The completed tool firmly and securely holds the terminal portion of a sparkplug, so that the sparkplug can be manipulated through small spaces, inserted into its opening which may be inaccessible, and threaded into its opening. After being threaded, the sparkplug may be fully tightened by a sparkplug wrench. The small diameter of the handle end 22 permits the tool to be easily manipulated and rotated by the thumb and forefinger.

It will thus be seen that our invention provides a new and improved sparkplug holding tool. Our sparkplug holding tool is relatively inexpensive and simple to construct, and yet is easy and convenient to use, particularly in the crowded space around an automobile engine. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to our invention. For example, other materials and dimensions may be used to form the tool 10, and other materials and dimensions may be used to form the gripping member 18. The handle end 22 and the end 14 may be made in two pieces and joined together. There fore, while our invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved tool for holding a sparkplug and manipulating the sparkplug into threaded engagement in its opening in an engine, comprising:

(a) an elongated member having a relatively small diameter and generally cylindrical shape symmetrically positioned with respect to a longitudinal axis;

(b) said elongated member having an enlarged portion at one end thereof, said enlarged portion having a cylindrical hole therein that has a diameter greater than the diameter of the terminal of the sparkplug and a length substantially equal to the length of the terminal of the sparkplug, said hole being symmetrically positioned relative to said longitudinal axis;

(c) a cylindrical gripping member of resilient material having an outside diameter that is slightly less than the inside diameter of said hole, having a length substantially equal to said length of said enlarged portion, and having a cylindrical hole therethrough for receiving the terminal portion of a sparkplug, said cylindrical hole of said gripping member having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the terminal of the sparkplug;

(d) said gripping member being positioned in said cylindrical hole of said elongated member with said cylindrical hole of said gripping member being symmetrically positioned relative to said longitudinal axis;

(e) and means formed on said enlarged portion of said elongated member for retaining said gripping member in said cylindrical hole of said enlarged portion.

2. The improved tool of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprise an inwardly directed flange on said enlarged portion, said flange extending around the periphery of said hole of said enlarged portion and covering only a portion of said gripping member to leave said cylindrical hole of said gripping member exposed.

3. The improved tool of claim 1 wherein the other end of said elongated member forms a handle having a diameter less than the diameter of said one end, said handle being knurled.

4. The improved tool of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprise an inwardly directed flange on said enlarged portion, said flange extending around the periphery of said enlarged portion to leave said cylindrical hole of said gripping member exposed, and wherein the other end of said elongated member forms a handle having a diameter less than the diameter of said one end, said handle being knurled.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,491 2/1955 Ross 81125 X 2,752,811 7/1956 Wenchel 81l25 3,288,002 11/1966 Mankovitz 81-125 X 3,322,007 5/ 1967 Cunningham 81-125 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,194,107 5/1959 France.

MILTON S. MEI-IR, Primary Examiner. 

